Tree removal permits in Cheltenham
| City of Kingston | Bayside City Council | |
|---|---|---|
| Local law | A permit to remove a protected tree: a trunk over 110 cm around at its base, a multi-stemmed tree, or one planted under a permit | Since 1 November 2026, only trees on the Significant Tree Register |
| Overlays to check | Significant trees (ESO3) and indigenous vegetation (VPO1) | The native vegetation overlay (VPO3), which covers parts of Cheltenham |
| Canopy tree clause 52.37 | Applies in residential zones | Applies in residential zones |
| First call | A Vegetation Officer | Council |
Tree removal in Cheltenham: what's local
Coast species on the Bayside side
Bayside's VPO3 schedule names remnant indigenous species such as Coast Banksia, Drooping Casuarina, Coast Manna Gum and Coast Tea-tree, left from vegetation that was once widespread. Inside the overlay, a planning permit is needed to remove or lop any vegetation native to Australia.
Listed trees on the Kingston side
Kingston's significant tree schedule lists six Coast Manna Gums at Kingston Heath Reserve and four Canary Island date palms in the station forecourt on Charman Road. Any application for a listed tree needs a qualified arborist's report.
From market gardens to Southland
Cheltenham's market gardens filled with houses and factories through the 1950s and 1960s, and Southland opened in 1968. Gardens planted in that era have had decades to grow into permit-sized trees.
Street lines
Much of the south-east's network is United Energy's. A tree tangled in a street line is theirs to deal with.
What Kingston looks for in an application
Kingston wants evidence that matches the reason: photos or an engineer's, plumber's or builder's report for damage, an arborist's risk assessment for safety, or a building permit for development. It says leaf litter, gutter cleaning, blocked views, shadowing and looks aren't reasonable grounds.
A field officer inspects on site, and most approved removals come with a replacement tree to plant. If a Local Law permit is refused, you can appeal, and an independent arborist's recommendation then decides it.
The Kingston permit page and the Bayside permit page have the detail for each side of the suburb.
Hiring an arborist in Cheltenham
Look the address up on VicPlan first, which shows the zones and overlays in one go. If you're on the Kingston side, measure the trunk at its base; if you're in Bayside's overlay, find out whether the tree is a native species. With that in hand, one call to the right council settles most of the question.